Should subcentimeter non-invasive encapsulated, follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma be included in the noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features category? Journal Article


Authors: Xu, B.; Farhat, N.; Barletta, J. A.; Hung, Y. P.; de Biase, D.; Casadei, G. P.; Onenerk, A. M.; Tuttle, R. M.; Roman, B. R.; Katabi, N.; Nosé, V.; Sadow, P.; Tallini, G.; Faquin, W. C.; Ghossein, R.
Article Title: Should subcentimeter non-invasive encapsulated, follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma be included in the noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features category?
Abstract: Objective: In 2016, non-invasive, well-circumscribed and encapsulated, follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (NI-EFV PTC) was reclassified as noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) in order to reduce overtreatment of this indolent tumor. However, the study cohort did not include subcentimeter tumors, i.e., papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (mPTC) with NI-EFV morphology, and such lesions are still regarded and staged by most pathologists as microcarcinomas. It is therefore crucial to evaluate the clinical outcome of subcentimeter NI-EFVs. Methods: A total of 52 patients with unifocal mPTC, NI-EFV from five tertiary hospitals who had at least one year clinical follow-up (FU) without post-operative RAI administration were included in the study. A control group of 57 invasive mPTC follicular variant was also included. Results: The median tumor size was 0.44 cm (range 0.1–0.9 cm). There were no distant or lymph node metastases at diagnosis in all patients. Twenty-three patients (44%) underwent lobectomy alone, while the remaining received total thyroidectomy. No recurrence was observed in the entire cohort (n = 52) including all 38 patients with at least 2 years of FU (median FU: 6.3 years). Among 25 patients with ≥5 years of FU, none recurred with a median FU of 9.6 years (range 5.2–18.1 years). In contrast, in the control group with invasive mPTC follicular variant, there were 5 (9%) patients with nodal metastasis at presentation and 1 (2%) who displayed nodal recurrence. Conclusion: Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, NI-EFV, when stringently selected for, lacks metastasis at presentation and follows an extremely indolent clinical course, even when treated conservatively without RAI therapy. Provided stringent inclusion criteria are met, classification of subcentimeter mPTC, NI-EFV as NIFTP should be considered in order to avoid overtreatment of these biologically indolent lesions. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; human tissue; aged; gene mutation; major clinical study; histopathology; microscopy; postoperative period; pathophysiology; follow up; lymph node metastasis; tumor volume; cohort analysis; distant metastasis; sex ratio; radioactive iodine; thyroidectomy; lobectomy; thyroid papillary carcinoma; braf gene; nodal metastasis; clinical outcome; follicular variant; papillary thyroid carcinoma; very elderly; human; male; female; priority journal; article; tertiary care center; papillary microcarcinoma; non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (niftp); non invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma; noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary; subcentimeter non invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma
Journal Title: Endocrine
Volume: 59
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1355-008X
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2018-01-01
Start Page: 143
End Page: 150
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s12020-017-1484-1
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC5766404
PUBMED: 29204912
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 6 February 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Ronald A Ghossein
    482 Ghossein
  2. Robert M Tuttle
    481 Tuttle
  3. Nora Katabi
    303 Katabi
  4. Benjamin Raphael Roman
    75 Roman
  5. Nada Abdulrahim Farhat
    3 Farhat